Automatic air valve with swing check and back pressure control



June 13, 1939.

W. C. GROENIGER AUTOMATIC AIR VALVE WIT}! SWING CHECK AND BACK PRESSURE CONTROL Filed Jan. 29, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Wil \iam C. Groenic er TORNEY June 13, 1939. w. c. GROENIGER 2,161,313

AUTOMATIC AIR VALVE WITH SWING CHECK' AND BACK PRESSURE CONTROL Filed Jan. 29; 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR G roe ger Patented June -1a, 1939.

AUTOMATIC AIR VALVE WITH SWING CHECK AND BACK PRESSURE CONTROL William C. Groeniger, Columbus, Ohio,-

to John B. PierceFoundation, a corporation of New York assignor New York, N. Y.,

Application January 29, 1937, Serial No. 122,927

2 Claims.

My present invention relates to automatic air valves or vacuum breakers, and more particularly to an automatic air valve of the G-fltting type equipped with swing check and back pressure 5 control devices.

My invention is adapted for use in connection with plumbing and water supply systems, and wherein it' is essential to prevent water which has once passed out from a source of supply from m ever returning to said source of supply under any circumstances. Unless the receptacle for receiving water from a source of supply, as a supply main, is physically and completely separated from the supply mai'n there is always grave danger that under exceptional conditions, such as may arise in the water supply system, some water which has once passed out from the supply system will be siphoned back into the supply system. From the standpoint of public health it is neces sary therefore that no siphoning construction in plumbing systems shall ever be capable of acting as a means for redrawing into a water supply system water which has once passed out from such system.

My present invention is adapted to carry out the prime object set out above in that when a device constructed according to my present invention is incorporated in a plumbing system it will prevent the formation of a siphoning condition in the system,

In carrying out my present invention I associate with an air valve of the G-fitting type, a swing back and back pressure control means comprising generally a flap valve, which may be normally open or normally closed as occasion requires, and which G-fitting type valve has associated therewith an air valve which likewise may be normally open or normally closed so as to permit air to be drawn into the plumbing system under normal conditions at all times, and to allow air to be drawn into the plumbing system so as to break up and thus prevent any vacuum condi tion from being established in the plumbing system'.

A feature of my invention is an automatic air valve of the G-fltting type having a swing back and back pressure control device associated therewith. A feature of my invention is an automatic air valve provided with means for admitting air to the water intake end of the valve upon the establishment of abnormal conditions therein.-

Other features of the invention will appear as the description of the invention progresses.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig; 1 is a view, in sectional elevation, of a valve of the G type in which my presentinvention has been embodied:

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the flap valve arrangement shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view, in sectional elevation, of a modified form of my invention, and

Fig. 5 is'a view, in sectional elevation, of a still further modified form of my invention.

Referring. to the drawings, and more partic ularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, Hi designates generally an air valve of the G-fitting type constructed of a bottom body member Ii, and a top body member I2. such body members H and H are hollow and are provided at their cooperating ends with threaded means lit for securing the members together as a unit. The top member 12 is provided with an internally threaded inlet 14, leading to a chamber l5, formed in said unit, and which chamber is connected by means of passage II with a chamber ll, formed in the bottom body ll.

The chamber H, in the bottom body member 5 ll, connects with a discharge pipe I. and the lower end of the body member II is provided with means, such as a packing nut i9 and packing 2|, to form a fluid tight connection between the lower'body member ii and 'the discharge pipe ll.

At one side of the upper body member l2 and communicating with the chamber il in the bottom body member ii is an arcuate passage 2|, at the lower end of which is formed a valve seat 22.

The valve seat 22 lies substantially in the same 85 horizontal plane-as shown in the figures-as lies a valve seat 23, at the lower end of the passage it connecting the chamber in the upper body member with the chamber II in the lower 0 body member ii.

Within the upper body member 12 and located in the material of such body member between the restricted passage 46 and arcuate passage 22, is a chamber 28. Rotatably mounted on pintles in the chamber 24 is a depending member 2; Such depending member 26 extends into the interior of the lower body member ii and has se cured thereto in any suitable manner an angulariy formed supporting framework 21. The framework 21 when in the normal position and supported at the lower end of the depending member 26 is in the position shown in Fig. 1 where it will be apparent that the elements of the framework 21 extend outwardly and downmember l2, and therefore the restricted passagewardly from the depending member 2! and form an angle with the valve seats 22 and 22.

Secured to one arm of the framework 21 is a cup valve 22 provided with an integrally formed annular flange valve 20. The cup valve 2| is slotted, as indicated by the numeral It, and both the cup valve 22 and annular flange valve are secured in position on the arm of the supporting framework 21 by the member 8|.

Upon rotation of the framework 21 about the pintles as an axis, and in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1, it will be apparent that the annular valve 29 will move upwardly and seat against the valve seat 23 formed at the lower end of the restricted passageway I of the upper body way I will be closed. Under such circumstances, however, if the rotative movement above described has been occasioned by the building up of a vacuum condition in the piping system to which the air valve II has been attached, air can still flow upwardly through the. restricted passage it through the slittedopening II in the cup valve 28, and the possibility of a siphon condition being built up in the piping system is prevented.

Secured to the other arm of the framework 21 by'means 22 is a flap valve 22 which maybe of any'suitable material such for example asflber, or rubber, or any other suitable flexible or'inflexible material. The normal position of such flap valve 22 is shown in Fig. 1.

Under the normal conditions as existing in Fig. 1, it will be apparent that air from the outer atmosphere may flow freely through the arcuate passage 2|, and into the lower: body member ll around the flap valve 23, and that such condition is accentuated under the abnormal conditions which will-exist when the annular flange valve 20 engages with the valve seat 22. Under abnormal conditions therefore, air is freely supplied to the arcuate passage 2| and such air will flow upwardly through the cup valve 22 to break down any vacuum condition tending to arise in' the piping system.

Under the normal conditions of operatiomthat is, when water is being drawn from the plumbing system, to which the valve II is assumed to be attached, through the upper body 12, the restrlcted passage It, through the lower body ii and into the pipe ll to a receptacle, the flow of water 'as above pointed out will rotate the frame- .work 21 in a counterclockwise direction about the "pintles 28 as'an axis, forcing the valve'12 into Ill association with the valve seat 22 and preventing escape of water through the arcuate passage 2|.

This condition will be maintained as long as.

water is flowingas just described.

with this form of my invention therefore no restriction is offered tovthe flow of water from the main pipe system to the outlet pipe I! and under such conditions, because-of the operation of the valve 28, no water will leak out of the system through the arcuate passage 2|. Also upon the establishment of abnormal conditions in the water supply system the valve 28 will close in the attempt to prevent redrawing of water to the water supply system and the cup valve 28 will open to break up the vacuum condition which will'be created in the water supply system. The

lng member 28 extends downwardly into the chamber ll of the bottom body member ll. Such depending member 2 has secured thereto at its lower end a framework 34 to which is attached by means '35 a flap valve 26 which cooperates with the valve seat 23 at the lower end of the restricted passage It in the upper body member H. The framework 24 has attached thereto, and on one side thereof, an arm 31 provided with a weight .38 on its free end which acts as a counterweight and always tends to rotate the framework 34 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4. Such action forces the valve 38 into association with the valve seat 23.

Communication from the passage l6 to the chamber ll of the lower body therefore is always closed under normal conditions, and will only be opened when water flows from the water supply system through the threaded end I and downwardly 'past the flap valve 36 into the outlet pipe ll.

In this form of my'invention the arcuate passage 2| in the portion thereof adjacent the outside of the upper body member i2 is threaded at 39 to receive a clamping member 40 which acts to clamp a resilient breather valve 4| in position in the outer open end of such arcuate passage 2|.

In this form of the invention as an abnormal the valve 36 thereby breaking up the siphon condition being created. v

Referring now to. Fig. 5 there is shown therein a construction similar to Fig. i but wherein the upper body member I2 has formed integral therewith a chamber 42 opening into the chamber I! of the upper body member l2 through a passage 43. Such chamber 42 has secured therein by member 44 a breather valve 45. In this modification also the depending member 28 carries a framework 46 provided with the flap valve 41 associated with the valve seat 22 and the flap valve tl associated with the valve seat 22. In this modification also the flap valve 41 is normally closed on its seat 22 and therefore and of necessity the flap valve 48 is normally opened so that airis permitted to flow freely through the arcuate passage 2| into the chamber ll of the lower body member ll. Also the breather valve is normally closed. Under normal conditions therefore only air can flow through the arcuate passage 2| into the chamber ll of the lower body memberl I.

When water is flowing from the water supply system through the upper body member I! the flap valve 4 will be forced onto its seat 22, thereby preventing access of air to the chamber ll of the lowerbody member through the arcuate passage 2|, and no water will flow out throug the arcuate passage 2|.

Upon the building up of an abnormal condition in the water supply system a vacuum will tend to be produced, there by closing the valve 41 onto its seat 23, and as no air can pass through such valve 41 the building up of the vacuum condition will open the breather valve 45, thus permitting air to flow through such valve and the passage 43 intothe water supply system, breaking up the vacuum condition being built up.

Whereas I have described my invention by reference to specific forms thereof, it will be understood that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. A

I claim:

1. In a back pressure control device the combination of, a body comprised 01' an upper and a lower member, a chamber formed in the lower member, a passage extending longitudinally through the upper body member, an arcuate passage in said top member, both said passages communicating with the chamber in the lower body member, valve seatsjormed at the inner ends of the passages in the upper body member, a frame pivotally mounted in the upper body member, valves mounted thereon and associated respectively with the valve seats formed at the exit end of the longitudinal passage and at the inner end of the areuate passage, and whereby upon back pressure in the valve body the valve associated with the valve seat in the longitudinal passage will engage with said valve seat to prevent egress of water therethrough and whereby the valve associated with the valve seat at the inner end of the arcuate passage will be removed therefrom to permit air to flow into the chamber in the lower body member, and a valve independent of the valve associated with the inner end of the longitudinal passage permitting flow of air directly into the longitudinal passage while'the last said valve is in engagement with the said valve seat.

' 2. In a back pressure control device the combination of, a body comprised of an upper and a lower member, a chamber formed in the lower member, a passage extending longitudinally through the upper body member, an inlet extending laterally into the longitudinal passage, a breather valve located in said lateral passage, an arcuate passage in the upper body member, both the arcuate passage and the longitudinal passage communicating with the chamber in the lower body member, valve seats formed at the inner ends of the longitudinal and areuate passages in the upper body member, a frame pivotally mounted in the upper body member, valves mounted thereon and associated respectively with the valve seats formed at the exit end of the longitudinal passage and at the inner end of the arcuate passage, and whereby upon back pressure in the valve body the valve associated with the valve seat in the longitudinal passage wfll engage with said valve seat to prevent egress of water therethrough and whereby the valve associated with the valve and at the inner end of the arcuate passage will be removed therefrom to permit air to flow into the chamber in the lower 7 body member, and whereby the breather valve in the lateral passage will be opened to permit 30 flow of air into the longitudinal passage.

WILLIAM C. GROENIGm 

